RVA Magazine – Page 2

RVA #36 Is On The Streets Now!

RVA Staff | April 1, 2019

Topics: Abigail Larson, art, Chris Visions, Culture, gayrva, Michael Millions, music, RVA 36, RVA Global, rva mag print edition, RVA Magazine

Spring is here, and so is this year’s first issue of RVA Magazine!

This week, RVA Magazine #36 is on the stands all over town, welcoming spring with our first brand-new edition of 2019. It’s chock full of arts, culture, music, politics, news, and more. From across the state to right here at home, RVA #36 brings you the first-rate coverage of central Virginia’s street-level culture that you have come to expect over RVA Mag’s 14 years of existence.

Richmond’s artistic community is drawing a lot of attention this year, and in this issue, we dug into the stories behind the art. From longtime local fave Chris Visions, who has caught the world’s eye with his work on Marvel’s Spider-Verse, to gothic princess Abigail Larson, who is currently involved in the creation of Neil Gaiman’s latest Sandman project, we’ve got some serious heavy hitters to introduce you to in this issue.

Richmonders getting out and exploring the world is also a big theme this issue. From local hip-hop sensation Michael Millions’s improbable experience performing in small-town Kentucky to our own Madelyne Ashworth’s travels around Europe and Asia, we bring the unique perspective of our home city to events all around the world.

There’s a lot more in store as well, from a GayRVA report on the queer resistance movement in rural Appalachia to an exploration of independent filmmaking in the river city with the creators of upcoming feature Last Call, which was filmed on location at Richmond’s own The Answer.

All of that is in store for you when you grab your very own copy of RVA #36, available in all your favorite local businesses around town. Get yours now… they’re going fast!

RVA Magazine’s Best Stories of 2018

RVA Staff | December 31, 2018

Topics: 2018 in Review, happy new year, holidays, new year, RVA Magazine

The year is coming to a close, and RVA Magazine is wrapping up another year of Commonwealth culture. With Virginians from right here in Richmond to our neighbors traveling through the state and across the world, we’ve been on the beat to tell your stories wherever we can — and tell the story of life in Virginia in 2018.

We’ve wrapped up your favorite reads from this year to take a glance back at where we’ve been before we say cheers to the new year.

Stay gold, Richmond.

Just in Time For Christmas, RVA #35 Hits The Streets Today

RVA Staff | December 20, 2018

Topics: arts, beer, Culture, food, music, politics, print edition, richmond, RVA, RVA 35, RVA Global, RVA Magazine, Virginia News, Winter 2018

RVA Magazine closes out its 13th year curating culture across the Commonwealth.

This week, RVA Magazine #35 is fresh to the stands, closing out 2018 with a brand-new edition full of arts, culture, music, politics, news and more. From across the state to right here at home, RVA #35 tells the stories of Virginians and wraps up the year with the Commonwealth’s best.

Here in Richmond, hip hop is heating up, and this issue brings you the stories and photos that’ll give you an inside scoop on the scene’s growing momentum. However, it’s not all good news for the RVA music scene, as long-running, well-beloved venue Strange Matter closes its doors. We bring you a fond farewell from the musicians and music fans of this city.

Meanwhile, we’re delving into the always-fertile world of #rvadine with the latest updates from the world-dominating craft beer community of the river city, as well as an in-depth look at the women who are redefining what it means to be head chef at one of the city’s top restaurants.

The city’s visual artists also get some shine, from the digital neuromancy of artist and photographer Chris Smart to the powerful hip hop-focused work of muralist Nils Westergard.

Beyond the River City, we’ve traveled from the shipyards of Norfolk to the mountains of Appalachia to tell the stories of the Commonwealth. From the desk of our sister site, GayRVA, we get a report on Norfolk’s Knight Hawks, an old-school leather club finding their way into the 21st century. We also take a close look at Appalachia, where communities are attempting to move beyond their economic dependence on coal mining and create a sustainable future for rural western Virginia.

Don’t sleep — grab a copy around town. RVA #35 is on the streets now.

Internships With RVA Magazine

RVA Staff | December 5, 2018

Topics: Contributors, film, gayrva, graphic design, internships, journalism, Multimedia, RVA Magazine

Work With Us

Do you have the writing chops to seek out and deliver compelling stories on the latest in music, art, food, beer, politics and current events in Richmond? Well, you’re in luck, because RVA Magazine and GayRVA are opening positions for editorial, graphic design, and video interns for our upcoming Spring 2019 season.

Launched in 2005 as a zine to promote the bubbling revival of Richmond’s underground, the RVA regional brand started with RVAMag. RVA Magazine and GayRVA are now Virginia’s largest independent media and the region’s voice for arts, entertainment, and cultural news. We are always seeking to diversify our newsroom: LGBTQ and minority students are very much encouraged to apply.

Opportunities

Both publications have several openings for writers and creatives who are passionate, hard-working, and excited to learn under the guidance of Virginia’s largest independent media outlets right here in Richmond.

We welcome your ideas, and will open doors to interview artists, musicians, politicians, and local influencers with opportunities to pitch your own ideas as well. Writers can attend and cover shows, write features on artists, and report on musicians, craft beer pros, restaurants, films, theater, fashion, politics, and more — right here in the River City and across Virginia.

Ideal candidates will:

Attend college and be in need of 1-3 credits through their scholastic program
Work on 1-2 articles per week (depending on credit need), and be able to meet deadlines in a professional editorial environment
Be able to work remotely and attend a weekly editorial meeting, with the freedom to attend events in the evening for possible feature pieces
Have a laptop, digital camera, digital voice recorder, and/or smartphone
Be willing to work hard
Understand responsibilities involved when committing to a project
Be able to write hard news and features, with ability to bring interesting elements in stories into articles through interviews and drafting relevant questions
Have an open mind, with the willingness to cover issues and topics that might be altogether new to you

Juniors and Seniors studying Journalism will receive first priority consideration. Internships are unpaid and for-credit if requested, with potential opportunities for contributors following the internship.

Attending a college program is not required, but those not in a program should be able to show a history of successful writing or commitment to a long-term project.

Editorial Internship Details:

Writing – Interns will draft 1-2 articles per week: News writing, event previews, interviews of artists or musicians, album reviews, features on new businesses and local stories, political updates.

Interviewing – You will be speaking to lots of different people. The voices of the city and state help define the publication, and you will be seeking out those voices.

Pitching and developing long-form stories – We want to help you get published, we want to see you succeed. We’ll help you get there in any way possible, and provide guidance to continue your professional career in any different facets of the media industry. We can help with career counseling and help you build your resume to move forward into a media environment.

The Internship (And What You’ll Get):

Interns work remotely on 1-2 articles per week, interviewing sources in person or via phone on feature pieces.
Get access to shows, parties, and events of your choice throughout Virginia.
Have your name published in Virginia’s largest independent media, with long- and short-form writing experience.
Have the independence to cover stories and issues that interest you. Pitch your ideas and don’t hold back your creativity: We want to hear your voice and uplift the voices of our community that aren’t usually heard.
Multimedia web-based project experience.
Editorial jobs are mostly performed remotely, with a once-weekly editorial meeting to update projects.

What we need from you:

Cover letter detailing why you want to work with RVA Magazine and what you can bring to the editorial team
Resume
2-3 article writing samples for editorial applicants (both feature and hard news if applicable)
Website (if applicable)
Availability from January–May 2019
Specification: If you are applying to work with RVAMag or GayRVA (or both)

Editorial interns can apply to RVA Magazine or GayRVA separately, or apply to work with a mixture of both. Please specify in your application which publication(s) you would like to work with. Send application materials to Caley Sturgill at [email protected] in an email titled “Internship Submission.”

Multimedia (Video/Graphic Design) Internship Details:

We are looking for several individuals to join the team in multimedia, ranging from filming artist promotional shoots to storytelling in various pieces. Multimedia jobs are remote, and assignments will be sent to interns as needed once branding needs are established in a meeting.

Internship Duties:

Video: Ideally pitch, shoot, edit and produce compelling video on breaking news and feature stories with RVAMag, GayRVA, and social media across either.

Graphic Design: Design weekly article images, amount depending on required credit hours. Weekly work is flexible for multimedia interns — tell us what you’re looking for.

Candidates should be studying journalism, graphic design, film, or other related fields, but all applicants with video or multimedia experience will be considered. Must have strong narrative storytelling skills, ability to meet deadlines, and ability to work with video team. Those who own or are familiar with a DSLR camera will be considered first. Experience with Final Cut Pro, Final Cut X or similar video editing software a plus.

What we need from you:

Cover letter
Resume
Film or graphic design samples for multimedia applicants
Availability from January-May 2019
Website (if applicable)

Please send applications to Caley Sturgill at [email protected] and write “Internship Submission” as the subject line.

Deadline for submission is December 28 (flexible if needed — send an email letting us know beforehand if you plan to submit a late application).

RVA #34 Hits The Streets Today

Caley Sturgill | October 22, 2018

Topics: fall, feature stories, print edition, rva 34, RVA Magazine, virginia voices

This week, RVA Magazine #34 hits the stands in Virginia with the print magazine’s newest edition for the fall season. We’re wrapping up the heat this year with another edition of the Commonwealth’s best in music, arts, politics, and features: with perspectives on regional culture from across the state.

PHOTO: RVA Global. Johannesburg, South Africa Street Art

On the beat all summer from outer space to South Africa, RVA Magazine has heard Virginian voices from around the world and here at home.

In this issue, we stargaze with astronauts, follow Richmonders to the street art of Johannesburg with RVA Global, and catch up with locals from social movements to national boxing champs.

PHOTO: Virginia Astronaut Leland Melvin, Lynchburg, VA

With Virginians of all backgrounds, you’ll hear from a former Nazi skinhead-turned activist for acceptance visiting the state speaking to law enforcement on battling hate, learn about a popular transgender comedian with GayRVA, and check out the what’s new in the local music scene right in Richmond — like blending hip hop and hardcore scenes to unify a message across the city.

We’ve gathered artists, musicians, scientists and writers to see fashion and arts in Virginia. Along with features, you’ll find the newest in Richmond’s food, beer, playlists, and music reviews.

PHOTO: Iron Reagan’s Rob Skotis, Artist Wingchow, Richmond Rapper Michael Millions, Anthropology Dr. Amy Rector

Don’t sleep — grab a copy around town. RVA #34 is on the streets now.

RVA #32 On Stands Now

Amy David | April 3, 2018

Topics: RVA Magazine

RVA Magazine is back with our 32nd issue, a celebration of women in arts, music, fashion, and politics. In a year dubbed “the year of women,” RVA Mag is bringing the national conversation to the local level and raising Richmond’s voice to a wider platform. While the focus this issue is women, we also have our usual coverage and reporting of beer, food, and more that puts Richmond on the map.

Staff writer Madelyne Ashworth spoke with elected officials on both sides of the political aisle to bring us a piece about the rise of women in Virginia politics we’re calling “The Revolution Will Be Female.” Our second news piece is an in-depth look at the opioid epidemic in Virginia, and how it impacts women, too, although men are the public “face” of the crisis. For the back page, Editorial Director Landon Shroder traveled to Washington D.C. to interview local almost-VP Tim Kaine to talk about national security and what’s ahead for Virginians in 2018.

In music, Davy Jones profiles up-and-coming R&B/funk singer Kenneka Cook as she prepares to release her first album, Moonchild, following on the success of the title track, her first single. Our second piece comes from Hip Hop Henry, reporting from the ringside of the local exploding hip-hop battle arena, with a deep dive on the history of battle rap and a feature on Moon of Richmond’s Black Money Mobb rap collective.

From our partner publication, GayRVA, we have a profile on the talented Madison Turner, whose work is best described as pop-punk meets alternative rock with a smidgen of folk. Staff music writer Madelyne Drew Necci talks to her about her recent album release, A Comprehensive Guide To Burning Out.

In Hampton Roads, we check in with painter Alison Stinely, whose images of the female form were censored by local gatekeepers. Closer to home, we go inside the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU to profile the debut collection.

We’re expanding our fashion coverage this issue with a profile on Heloíne, the internationally-known model who moved to Richmond from a small village in Brazil, and the expansion of local designer Sean Wotherspoon’s Round Two to Los Angeles.

In addition to our hard-hitting journalism and original reporting, we also have the latest craft beer news, restaurant updates, fashion blurbs, and the latest singles and albums in RVA #32. Get it around town at local grocery stores, coffee shops, galleries, and more, or check it out online below:

Photo By: Branden Wilson